Carson Wentz is officially the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night, replacing an injured Kyler Murray. Yeah, you heard that right. Head Coach Kevin O’Connell announced it himself, and honestly, after watching the struggles this offense has had all season, you gotta wonder if this move is too little, too late. Max Brosmer is now the backup.
The Offense Has Been a Straight-Up Disaster
Look, I’m exhausted just talking about the Vikings’ offense this season. Week 9, and they are still sorting this mess out, which is a massive indictment of KOC and the entire offensive staff. Things needed fixing weeks ago, not now when the schedule is starting to toughen up. Kyler Murray has made some nice plays, sure, but he missed way too many opportunities. We’re talking about a guy whose 44.9 QBR through Week 8 ranks 26th in the league, even after adjusting for the absolute cupcake defenses he’s been facing. Think about that: they had a perfectly laid out schedule to get into a rhythm, and they absolutely flushed that opportunity down the toilet. The last time they even saw a “good” defense was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, five weeks ago. It’s been rough, real rough.
Wentz Gets His Shot (Again)
So, here we are, Wentz is back under center. KOC might say this is just while Murray is injured, but let’s be real: if Wentz plays well, he’s probably staying in. You gotta look at KOC’s past statements about young quarterbacks and that whole J.J. McCarthy situation as Exhibit 1A for how these things go. Wentz should be an upgrade just based on his proven ability to move the ball efficiently. Remember last year? He passed for over 300 yards twice in just four starts before KOC famously tossed him in against the Chargers in Week 8, practically quoting Ivan Drago: “If he dies, he dies.” This year, he’s already played essentially two games, going 23-for-39 (59%) for 276 yards (averaging 7.08 per attempt), 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions, though a couple of potential picks got dropped. That’s a 106.4 QB rating. It’s… okay, but it needs to be more than just okay if he’s gonna be the guy. The one big positive? He’s got a proven track record of getting the ball to Justin Jefferson. You know Jefferson had to crack a smile when he heard the news.
Bills Defense: Another Chance to Screw It Up?
And guess who’s up next? The Buffalo Bills. And would you look at that, another weak defense for the Vikings to potentially trip over! Yippee. The Bills rank 23rd in EPA/play and 24th in points allowed, giving up an average of 25.9 points. This Monday night game is a rematch of that wild 33-30 overtime road win back in 2022, a game no one in Minnesota will ever forget. So, the stage is set for Wentz. Can he actually spark this offense against a defense that should be exploitable, or are we just gonna watch the Vikings step on another rake? This is a huge moment for Wentz, and for the entire Vikings offense to finally prove they aren’t just wasting a golden opportunity this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Daily Norseman.
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